Women of the Military

Latest Episodes:

A Muslim American in the Army Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

*This post contains affiliate links

Mona served 20 years in the US Army Nurse Corps. Initially, she was a staff nurse working rotating shifts. However, this wreaked havoc with my childcare scheduling. A year into service I learned of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) program the army had started with the promise of working clinic hours (M-F 0730 -1630) upon completion. A practical solution for her as it fits perfectly with daycare hours for her little girls (ages 2 & 4). She loved her choice and remained a women's health care NP and women's advocate for most of her career.

Mona and I connected through her new book, Not Created Equal. Her book shares her experience of growing up, being in an abusive marriage, and joining the Army after her divorce. It was a unique and interesting and unique perspective of growing up as a Muslim immigrant in America during the 1970s.

In our interview, we focused on her military experience. How she came to join the Army after initially applying for the Air Force and getting no response. The struggle of being a single mom with unreliable childcare for her crazy shifts. She also talks about becoming one of the first Nurse Practitioners to get the opportunity to work a normal schedule. We also covered her time in Germany where she met her second husband, traveled all over Europe including some of the Eastern block countries before the Berlin Wall fell. She also talked about the inner conflict she felt during the first Gulf War (Desert Storm). Being an American, but also having her culture from Egypt.

She ended her career in Virginia and was able to stay in Virginia by both her and her husband going to Korea in back to back years. But the stability it gave her daughters who were now in middle school and high school was worth the sacrifice.

She decided to write her memoir for her girls, but she also was encouraged by friends. She also wrote a letter and told her story to President Barrack Obama and he encouraged her to write her story as well. It is an interesting and unique perspective. Get your copy of Not Created Equal today!

Connect with Mona:

Website: monajohnsonauthor.com
Email: monajohnsonauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: monajohnsonauthor

Related Episodes:

Serving During Desert Storm – Episode 57

Graduate Debt Free from College with an ROTC scholarship – Episode 89

Women’s Health Practitioner in the Military – Episode 25

Want to read the whole transcript? Click here.

Thank you to my Patreon Sponsor Col Level and above

Kevin Barba

Thank you Pateron members for your support. Want early access to episodes, ad-free content, and one on one mentorship advice. Become a Patreon member today! Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

Staying informed with MOAA Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

Sylvia found the military by working as a civil servant for the California National Guard. She said it felt like a family and she wanted to be a part of the community as a service member and decided to join. She was mentored by Lt Col Ralph Page who had nine children and took her under his wing and gave her advice and mentorship as if she was one of his children. He was the one who pushed her to apply for Officer Candidate School. Her career culminated with her reaching the rank of Brigadier General that opened doors up for her and gave her the ability to represent women and the Latina community in a place that before did not have a voice or representation.

She and her husband are both veterans and are both members of MOAA. And the primary thing they find important and why they are members is through the information provided by MOAA through email updates and the magazine. MOAA helps them stay current on what is going on in the military and on Capitol Hill and allows them to use their voice to contact various government representatives because they know what is happening. She also talked about the lobbying power of MOAA. We talked more about MOAA’s lobbying power in the first bonus episode with Aniela Szymanski, you can check out that episode here.

But another critical important benefit is the transition resources, grants, and scholarships available to members. You can get a scholarship, interest-free loans, grants, and more. But there are also resources for resume writing to help you convert your military resume into something that will help you land a new job outside of the military. They also are connected with LinkedIn that can help connect you and build your network. So many great benefits when you leave military service and beyond.

Health care is a program that has been on the forefront of Gen Crokett’s career and something she has been paying attention to after service. Currently, the military is looking into re-organizing the billets for medical care, the Spouse Angle interviewed MOAA representative Karen Ruedisueli to talk specifically about this issue, and the work MOAA was doing. And the voice MOAA provided has forced Congress to take another look at the proposed plan.

Brigadier General Sylvia R. Crockett was assigned as the Land Component Commander of the California Army National Guard in October 2014. In this capacity, she is responsible for providing command and control over all non-divisional units in California. The units consist of five brigade-level commands and include the 1106th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, 49th Military Police Brigade, 115th Regional Support Group, 223rd Regional Training Institute, and the California Army National Guard Medical Command.

General Crockett enlisted in the California Air National Guard as a supply technician in 1982. After serving two years with the 129th Rescue Wing, she transferred to the California Army National Guard to attend the California Military Academy. She was commissioned in 1985 as an Adjutant Corps Officer and subsequently became branch qualified as a Military Intelligence Officer. General Crockett has served in command positions from the Company level through up to the Brigade.

Join MOAA Today

Bonus Episode: Advocacy with MOAA

Bonus Episode: MOAA is more that Advocacy

Want to read the whole transcript? Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

The Importance of Military Friendships Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

Jean joined the military at seventeen

After growing up in Hawaii and seeing the military presence and the fact that her dad and uncles had served. It was also a way to gain independence and get away from a toxic environment at home. She also knew that she would be able to get college paid for after serving in the military.

She began drilling with the National Guard in Feb of her senior year of high school and attended boot camp that summer after hen she graduated. She thought she was going on active duty, but then when she came back from boot camp, she understood the difference between active duty and National Guard. And decided to make the transition from National Guard to active duty.

Off to Iraq without military friendships

When she arrived at her first base on active duty, she found out she would be deploying within her unit within 30 days of arriving on station. She didn’t feel connect to anyone because she had just arrived. It wasn’t until they were doing training in Kuwait she started to build military friendships. They went to Kuwait and then Iraq. She talked about being young and unprepared mentally for what war would be like. Her deployment was a year long and it felt like a really long time.

Coming home from deployment was a difficult transition. She talked about how hard it was to stay connected with family and culture back home. There were MWR phone centers and computers, but she had to squeeze in time to find a way to get there. She often chose sleep over a long walk in the sun to the MWR tent. Luckily, through the deployment military friendships developed and she was able to connect with others to help deal with the stress of being deployed.

Leaving Active Duty for Reserves

She transitioned to the Reserves and moved back to California after her service commitment was up. The transition to Reserves was interesting because the culture in the military was do different. She was also dealing with the guilt of not deploying with her unit. Her boyfriend was deployed with the unit and she heard what was happening. It was hard to not be there.

She and her husband were both able to use the Post 9-11 GI Bill to get their degrees while serving in the Reserves. They both able to be home to take care of their son. But they still relied on their family care plan to ensure they could meet their Reserve requirements. Luckily, her sister in law in Maryland was able to fill that role. It was complicated, but having a safe place for her son made it worth the trip to Maryland.

Today and the Future

She is currently in the IRR so she can finish her masters and is working toward going back into the Reserves to finish out her commitment to retirement after she graduates. She is working a few different avenues on how she will be going back into the Reserves.

Currently, she works for a large non-profit in the Mental Health services area and is working to get licensed as a social worker and provides coaching on the weekends. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Connect with Jean:

Mentioned in this Episode:

Pamela Chavez (Being Stop-Lossed in the Army)

Related Episodes:

Leading From the Front – Episode 28

The Challenge of OTS – Episode 85

What Branch Should I Join – Episode 82

Want to read the whole transcript? Click here.

Thank you to my Patreon Sponsor Col Level and above

Kevin Barba

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

MOAA is more than Advocacy Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

Since 1929, MOAA mission has been to protect your earned military benefits. Through tireless advocacy, they have forged a legacy of success benefiting the entire military community. Become a member today, click here.

MOAA Advisory Committee

Rachel serves on the MOAA Active Duty Advisory Committee. She applied for the position while living in Northern Virginia and loves that she represents not only the Coast Guard but military women. Her husband a male military spouse also has his voice heard through her representation. The goal of the advisory committee is to give a voice to military members to help keep MOAA aware of current issues service members and military spouses face. There is also a Military Spouse Advisory Committee.

Storm the Hill

MOAA is active in Advocacy on Capitol Hill and one of the responsibilities of Committee members is being part of the annual storm the hill event. Storming the Hill means a number of MOAA members and spouses come to Capitol on a specific day to talk to Congress members about various legislations that are being worked. When Rachel stormed the hill in 2019, they were advocating for removing the Widow’s Tax, and through the advocacy of MOAA and others, the legislation was changed. She also was able to participate virtually, due to COVID, and had a chance to meet with a congresswoman who normally didn’t meet with MOAA members because the MOAA representative was often a white male. Through her advocacy, she was able to bring a diverse voice to the table and help represent more military members.

But MOAA is more than Advocacy

Next, we discuss some of the benefits of being an MOAA member ranging from transition services, hiring symposiums, scholarships, no-interest loans, the Military Officer Magazine, and numerous virtual webinars. MOAA does so much on Capitol Hill, but that is only the beginning of the story of the work MOAA does.

Why Join MOAA

MOAA needs all Officers to join to ensure their voice is heard. You can become a free member though the BASIC membership where you will be informed through newsletters of the work being done, can be involved in chapter and council membership, and have exclusive discounts on products and travel. If you want to get more out of your membership look into the Premium and Life Membership options. Benefits include scholarships, interest-free loans and grants, advice on financial education, military pay, and benefits, career transition, and a monthly subscription to the Military Officer Magazine. Check out all levels of membership here.

Mentioned in this Episode

No Interest Loans and Grants

Military Officer Magazine

Related Episodes:

Advocacy with Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

Read the transcript here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

How Depression Led to Healthy Changes Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

Ashleigh is a third-generation Naval Academy graduate. Both her grandfather and uncle attended Annapolis. Growing up she didn’t want to be a part of the military, but as high school approached her grandfather talked about wanting a grandchild to continue the tradition and she began looking into the Naval Academy. By her freshman year of high school, she had decided it was what she wanted to do and started working to complete all the necessary requirements for the application. She had her application completed by the end of her Junior year and found out that summer she had been selected.

We discussed how her struggle with fitness and weight was a constant struggle throughout her time at the Academy. She had wanted to be a leader for Plebe summer but felt unqualified because she wasn’t the best fitness member. She received advice from a leader at the Naval Academy that she still had leadership value even if she wasn’t the fastest runner and if she wanted to do it, she should.

She commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer and was one of fourteen with an Engineering option. Her first assignment was difficult and she attributes it to having a bad leader and dealing with depression. She went to the doctor on her ship while deployed to get help and was told he didn’t know what to do because he felt the same way. She decided to focus on what she could control, which was her fitness and making healthier choices at meals. That along with receiving her Surface Warfare Pin helped bring her out of her depression.

Her next assignment at Norfolk was a much better experience and she had great leadership and a more manageable job. She also met her future husband. While at Norfolk she applied to go to graduate school and moved to Monterey to get her masters in Electrical Engineering. Shortly after beginning graduate school, her husband proposed and they got married while she was attending school. Before she graduated her husband deployed and they will finally be stationed together after being married almost two years.

She has decided to leave the Navy after this assignment so she can focus on her health coaching business. She wants to have the flexibility of being able to work from home and raise a family and while she has gained a lot from serving in the Navy it isn’t where her passion lies anymore. She loves that she will continue to serve the military community through her coaching and online programs.

She tells women who are considering joining the military to do it, but you don’t have to sacrifice who you are to do it. Know what you want and go for it.

Connect with Ashleigh:

Healthy Women Warriors Podcast

www.instagram.com/ashmageecoach
www.facebook.com/groups/HealthyWomenWarriors/
www.ashleighmagee.com
https://ashleighmagee.com/wellness-challenge/

Mentioned in this Episode:

Naval Academy

Related to this Episode:

From the Navy to the Air Force – Episode 15

Do I Belong in the Navy – Episode 6

Giving Back After Service to Find Healing – Episode 56

Read the transcript here.

Thank you Pateron members for your support. Want early access to episodes, ad-free content, and one on one mentorship advice. Become a Patreon member today! Click here.

Thank you to my Patreon Sponsor Col Level and above

Kevin Barba

Affiliate Support

Are you starting a business or needing help in the next step of your business check out the Ministry to Business Guide here.

Are you trying to decide what you are going to do as a parent for the upcoming school year? I'm diving into homeschooling, but I'm getting support. Check out the Clever Kid Curriculum here.

We recently started investing in the stock market, get two free stocks when you create your Webull Account today! Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

Advocacy with MOAA Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Aniela decided to join the military when she was looking at what she would do in the civilian sector and it wasn’t quite what she was looking for. As she began to search for options, she saw a poster for the Marines and realized she could be a recruiter in the Marine Corps. She went through the Delayed Entry Judge Advocate Program and served on active duty for nine before transferring to the Reserves. She continued to stay active in helping veterans with legal work and that is how she found herself working at MOAA.

While at MOAA she worked to help get the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act Passed. That allowed those on ships to get VA coverage for Agent Orange. It took years to get Vietnam Veterans benefits for diseases caused by Agent Orange on both land and sea. And there is currently an act in Congress working to prevent current and recent Middle East War veterans from going through the same long process. It is called the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act. If you think you are suffering from an illness related to a burn pit check out this link for Veterans Affairs to register.

She also worked to close loopholes that limited what “active duty” meant while serving in the Guard and Reserves. Allowing more members to qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill and for more members to receive full benefits. This work was directly connected to her service as a Reservist.

After watching her father go through a ten-year struggle to qualify for a VA health care and disability from his service during Vietnam she was excited to help work to modernize the VA Claims Process. What used to take over a year now, takes 3-4 months.

She encourages veterans to get involved in Veteran Service Organizations especially at the local level. If you can get involved in your local chapter you can help make an impact on the veteran community within your community.

Also, reach out to organizations like MOAA and let them know what you are concerned about or struggling with. Real stories from their members are helpful when advocating for changes or benefits. So don’t be afraid to write to MOAA at the national level if you have a concern. They want to listen to you and help you get your voice heard.

MOAA’s motto is Never Stop Serving because veterans have service engrained into who they are. So if you are looking to continue serving get involved today!

Connect with Anelia:

Twitter @akszymanski

https://www.linkedin.com/in/akszymanski/

Resources from MOAA:

MOAA.org

Form Letters

If you want to learn more about how a bill is made into law you can check out Episode 49 where Erin Miller shares her experience of getting the law changed to allow her grandmother one of World War II’s Women Air Force Service Pilots to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery.

Read the full transcript here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

From Marine Corps to Running for Indiana State Senate Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

A few years ago, I heard Mark Rockefeller speak about how Veterans can help remove the divide in politics. He talked about how veterans are taught to work and execute a mission with people who are different from themselves. As military members we come from all over with all different types of cultures and experiences but are all seen as soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coasties and have one primary mission, to get the mission done.

It requires not only talking to your fellow service member but also working together to solve the problems at hand. That is why I am so excited to talk to Tabitha about why she is running for office. She shares a little of her military experience and her difficult transition and how that led her to run for public office. But it is what she is doing today that is most exciting.

Not only is she running for office, but she is already working to bring positive change for her community through helping to organize various events and holding weekly conversations that local Indiana residents are facing. She wants to have a real conversation and stand up for change.

She wants to help people with simple solutions and focus on solving problems. She wants to take the politics out of non-partisan issues and find the solution to issues instead of disagreeing and not finding a solution.

Tabitha Bartley enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2010 and completed recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, SC. Following recruit training Private Bartley attended Marine Corps Combat Training at Camp Geiger and then the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, MD. PFC Bartley reported to Base Public Affairs, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA in June of 2011 to serve as a staff writer for the Quantico Sentry.
Lance Corporal Bartley served as the assistant director for the Base Community Relations program where she was part of the Toys for Tots Campaign and ran the base volunteer program. Corporal Bartley then made a PCS move to Marine Corps Recruiting Station Columbia, SC in June 2014.
While Stationed at RS Columbia Sgt. Bartley served as the Marketing and Public Affairs Director. She handles all the marketing, public relations, community relations, media relations, and advised the commanding officer. Sgt. Bartley also served as the uniform sexual assault victim advocate.
During her time in the Marines, she maintained numerous social media platforms, developed strategic marketing plans, and orchestrated community initiatives. Sgt. Bartley ended her service in the Marine Corps in October 2018 and relocated to Monticello, IN
She currently works for the University Development Office at Purdue Research Foundation and serves as the director for Women Veterans of Greater Lafayette, IN. She is also a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Tippecanoe County Veterans Council, and the Midwest Women Veterans Coalition.
Tabitha is married to Jacob Castro and they have three children.
Tabitha Bartley’s personal awards include: Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 3 gold stars in lieu of 4th Award, District Support Marine of the Year 2015, District Support Marine of the Year 2016, District Marketing and Public Affairs Marine of the Year 2017.

Connect with Tabitha:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabitha-bartley/
www.facebook.com/bartley4indiana
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bartley-for-indiana-1

Mentioned in this episode (affiliate links used):

Final Flight, Final Fight

Do You Know the Story of the Original Military Women Pilots?

Girls Guide to the Military

Related Episodes:

Finding Herself in the Marines – Episode 12

Join the Marine Corps – Episode 80

Serving as an Officer in the Marine Corps – Episode 51

Read the full transcript here.

Thank you to my Patreon Sponsor Col Level and above

Kevin Barba

Thank you Pateron members for your support. Want early access to episodes, ad-free content, and one on one mentorship advice. Become a Patreon member today! Click here.

Affiliate Support

Are you starting a business or needing help in the next step of your business check out the Ministry to Business Guide here.

Are you trying to decide what you are going to do as a parent for the upcoming school year? I'm diving into homeschooling, but I'm getting support. Check out the Clever Kid Curriculum here.

We recently started investing in the stock market, get two free stocks when you create your Webull Account today! Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

The Pressure to Prove Yourself in the Marine Corps Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Hana Romer served 10 years in the Marines as an Aviation Ordnance Technician. She also spent some time on recruiting duty. She graduated from Texas A&M in 2017, and is currently an advisory board member for the Military Family Advisory Network. I am MCAS Yuma’s 2020 AFI Military Spouse of the Year. She also runs a personal blog called SemperAg.com

Hana decided to join the Marines her Senior year of high school to get out of her small town. Her parents had aspirations for her to go to college and become a doctor or a lawyer, but she had her own ideas. Without her parent’s knowledge she met with a recruiter, signed the paperwork, and attended MEPS. She decided to tell them before it came out in the high school newspaper near the end of high school. She left for bootcamp the summer after graduation.

Bootcamp made Hana realize how hard she had been on her parents. As she met people from all over the country and had her freedom taken away from her. It made her realize how much her parents sacrificed for her. And changed their relationship.

Pressure to Prove

She graduated from bootcamp and Marine Combat Training and headed off to become an Aviation Ordnance Technician with training in Florida and North Carolina. Her first assignment was in San Diego and she worked on F-18s. It was back breaking work and she felt the pressure to prove herself worthy of being there but now realizes that she was worthy because she met the requirements like her male counterparts and didn’t have to do anything else.

She deployed to Japan at that assignment and when she returned home moved on to Camp Pendleton to work on helicopters. From there she deployed to Iraq. As one of two women in her unit she was very lonely. She also was on night shift and struggled to get on rhythm that worked for her.

Recruiter Duty and a Life Change

When she came home from deployment, she volunteered to be a recruiter. She completed the Sergeants Course and then went to the rifle range where she met her now husband. She started her schooling for recruiter school and was told she was going to go to Georgia because she spoke Korean. Since she had volunteered the Marine Corps was supposed to give her first choice, but someone who did not volunteer who also spoke Korean took her spot in San Diego. She was frustrated with the situation and on a whim her husband and her decided to go to Vegas and get married.

She ended up getting reassigned to Orange County. She and her husband were both working special assignments and hardly saw each other. Eventually, they went back to normal jobs and continued their career together while also growing their family. When her husband deployed, and she was left behind to care for their child and work as a Marine, the reality of dual military life and the stress made her rethink her plans to stay in until retirement. As she filled out her family care plan and created a will. Thinking of who would take care of her kids if something happened to her changed her path forward. She decided to separate from the military with 10 years of service.

Traumatic Brain Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Along with all the normal stressors her husband was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from an event that happened in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2004. As he worked through this, she has been there to help him and support him in sharing his story. He was awarded a Purple Heart over 15 years after the event and has been on his own healing journey. She urges veterans and those on active duty to not be afraid to reach out for help.

Pressure to Prove

She ended the interview by sharing her advice for young women looking to join the military. She told them that they earned their spot and don’t need to kill themselves trying to prove they belong. The pressure to prove themselves has already been done through the work they have done. Do your best and work hard, but you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone.

Connect with Hana:

Instagram

Check out Blog: www.semperag.com

“But when I do decide to spill my guts on my little corner of the internet, I like to write about our life as a military family, the challenges we face, the good things we experience, and everything in between. Sometimes I’m serious, sometimes I’m not. Sometimes I just share posts with nothing but photos taken in poor lighting from my iPhone, and other times, I share a posts with something deep, meaningful, spiritual, or vulnerable.” – Hana Romer

Related Episodes:

Being Alone On Deployment – Episode 31

Finding Herself in the Marines – Episode 12

Serving as an Officer in the Marines – Episode 51

Read the whole transcript here.

Thank you Pateron members for your support. Want early access to episodes, ad-free content, and one on one mentorship advice. Become a Patreon member today! Click here.

Affiliate Support

Are you starting a business or needing help in the next step of your business check out the Ministry to Business Guide here.

Are you trying to decide what you are going to do as a parent for the upcoming school year? I'm diving into homeschooling, but I'm getting support. Check out the Clever Kid Curriculum here.

We recently started investing in the stock market, get two free stocks when you create your Webull Account today! Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

First Female Thunderbird Pilot Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

This episode was made possible by Foundation For Women Warriors. Foundation for Women Warriors (FFWW) is a unique support organization created exclusively for the women veteran community. They provide essential programs to enhance the economic and personal wellbeing of women veterans and their families. Originally established in 1920 to serve widows, war nurses, and mothers of fallen service members, Foundation for Women Warriors is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. FFWW honors the service of women veterans by empowering their future through financial assistance, childcare assistance, and professional development. If you want to learn more about Foundation for Women Warriors and how to get involved head to their website foundationforwomenwarriors.org.

(Want to be a Women of the Military Sponsor? Click here.)

At five years old Nicole went to an air show in California and saw the F-4 fly and knew she wanted to be a fighter pilot. Even though women couldn’t be fighter pilots her family didn’t dissuade her from joining. She knew at 12 that she wanted to attend the Air Force Academy and even wrote a letter to the Academy letting them know she wanted to attend.

She applied and was accepted into the Air Force and Naval Academy along with ROTC scholarships and choose to attend the Air Force Academy. Even though she knew she couldn’t be a fighter pilot when she began her training at the Air Force Academy in 1992 she was planning to be a tanker pilot.

In 1993, the law banning women from fighter pilots was removed and the doors opened for her to follow the dream she had since she was five. She graduated and went off to pilot training and was able to graduate and become an F-15E pilot. She said she was never the greatest pilot but always worked hard.

Her first assignment was at RAF Lakenheath in England. And she found herself flying her first combat mission after the Kosovo War ended. She followed her then-boyfriend, now-husband to North Carolina after spending more than a year apart doing long distance. They were set to be married on Oct 7, 2001. September 11th happening less than a month before. There was almost the potential the wedding would be delayed, but it happened. And it actually was the first day bombs were dropped in Afghanistan.

She and her husband were given the opportunity to move together to Korea for their next assignment shortly after their marriage and they headed out to Korea. And a few weeks later her former squadron was preparing to deploy for Operation Enduring Freedom. She said it was hard to not go with them.

We talked about a number of highlights from her career and the challenges that she faced throughout her career. Being dual military, they worked to have open communication with their leadership and also took turns having each other’s career be in the driver’s seat.

In 2006, she became the first female Thunderbird pilot. She talked about applying to be a Thunderbird and not even realizing no woman had done that. She had always served in an Air Force where women could be fighter pilots and didn’t realize that she would be breaking a barrier when she applied. She said that it was important for her to not only open that door for women but leave it open for the women after her. She put pressure on herself to not only do the best for herself but also so that the next woman to fill that role wouldn’t be years away.

In 2012 she was a commander of 333rd Fighter Squadron. She loved being a commander and had so many stories of how she was able to impact the lives of her Airmen directly through her leadership as a commander. She also began to have strange symptoms that no one could pinpoint what was causing and wasn’t able to fly anymore. She was determined to continue to provide service to the Air Force even if she couldn’t fly. She went to the Naval War College and was a White House Fellow. Then one morning in 2016 she woke up and couldn’t move. She was paralyzed temporarily and was sent to Massachusetts to get seen by a specialist. They discovered she had Lyme disease and had an infection in her brain.

The military allowed her service to continue as she went through treatment and then in 2017 she was mailed her retirement paperwork and she was no longer in the Air Force. It was a hard transition and very abrupt. She credits the Wounded Warrior Program to help her find herself and what led her to find her purpose again as a Speaker.

She encourages young women to join the military. She talked about the barriers being broken and how much opportunity there is. If there is a desire in your heart to do it, you should.

Connect with Nicole:

www.nicolemalachowski.com
www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-malachowski
www.twitter.com/RealMalachowski

Mentioned in this Episode:

Wounded Warrior Project

US Air Force Academy

US Naval Academy

Air Force Thunderbirds

Related Episodes:

Before Women Could Be Fighter Pilots – Episode 29

Do You Know the Story of the Original Military Women Pilots? – Episode 49

A Navigator in the Air Force – Episode 62

Read the full transcript here.

Thank you Pateron members for your support. Want early access to episodes, ad-free content, and one on one mentorship advice. Become a Patreon member today! Click here.

Affiliate Support

Are you starting a business or needing help in the next step of your business check out the Ministry to Business Guide here.

Are you trying to decide what you are going to do as a parent for the upcoming school year? I'm diving into homeschooling, but I'm getting support. Check out the Clever Kid Curriculum here.

We recently started investing in the stock market, get two free stocks when you create your Webull Account today! Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

From the Military to Award-Winning Author Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

Lila Holley is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters book series. This US Army Veteran honorably served 22 years on Active Duty and since retiring has helped 93 women become published authors, sharing their stories with the world. Lila is on a mission to empower storytellers to take ownership of their narrative and provide a safe space for them to share their stories. She believes there is no one better to tell these stories than the people who live them.

Lila joined the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program in high school and found what she was meant to do. But when she became pregnant at fifteen, she thought her dream of joining the military was over. Luckily, she had her family’s support and once her son was in kindergarten, she was able to join the Army. She left her son in the care of her family and then went off to boot camp to be an Intel Analyst. Her first assignment was an unaccompanied tour to Korea for 13 months. And then after Korea, she came back to the states and was reunited with her son.

It was tough to be a single mother and be in the Army. There were a number of challenges, but she attributes her success to being able to work hard and always finding supporting families that were able to help her as she moved and advanced in her career.

At the seven-year mark, she became a Warrant Officer. Warrant Officers focus directly on their job and are technical experts. While Officers are often pulled away to manage people and run the daily tasks the Warrant Officers stay focused on the mission and the job. She loved being an Intel Analyst and was able to thrive in her career.

She deployed in 2004. She had gotten married a few years earlier and her husband was also active duty Army. They knew separation would be part of their story. And for the first three years they lived in different states. And then when they were finally stationed together her husband left for a deployment. Then shortly after his homecoming, she left for Iraq. Her husband talked about needing time to adjust back to normal life and she used his cues to help with her own transition back after deployment. She also came home to her two-year-old daughter. On top of all that, her husband had transitioned out of the military while she was overseas. Life had changed a lot, but through open communication and a lot of grace, they were able to continue on.

Her husband played the role of supporter for the last seven years of her career and she talked about how important the support of military spouses is not only to their service member but the military as a whole. Military spouses often make countless sacrifices that go unrecognized and her husband and daughter were not exempt. They moved 4 times her last five years in the service. But she always knew she had her husband’s support.

She transitioned out of the military and planned to knock it out of the park-like she had with all other challenges she had faced. But leaving the military meant she lost a part of herself and it took years to figure out the new Lila and find herself again.

Through that process, she created Camouflaged Sisters. So far, they have shared 93 stories of military women through the books they have published on Amazon. She is a leader for other women veterans and encourages women to get involved in the military community and share their stories. She also wants people to know that transitioning takes time. The military leaves a mark on your life and it could be 3 years or 33 years, finding yourself after the military will take time.

Connect with Lila:

https://camouflagedsisters.org/

Related Episodes:

Being Stop-Lossed in the Army – Episode 23

The Struggle of Coming Home from War – Episode 7

Military Women and their History – Episode 70

Read full transcripts here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold.

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series